Border-line Personality Disorder.
Border-line personality disorder (BPD) is a common mental illness. People affected have difficulty managing their emotions and impulses, relating to people and maintaining a stable self-image.
BPD can be highly distressing for the person affected, and often for their family and friends too. It can be confusing and easily misunderstood, but BPD is a very treatable condition.
BPD myths
Myth: ‘People with BPD are bad’
Reality: People with BPD are often labelled ‘manipulative’ or ‘attention-seeking’. But while the things they do may cause distress, this behaviour results from the symptoms of BPD, not a bad personality.
Myth: ‘People with BPD can't get better’
Reality: BPD is treatable. People with BPD can recover well with good treatment and support.
Myth: ‘People who harm themselves have BPD’
Reality: People self-harm for many reasons – it isn’t exclusive to BPD.
Symptoms
People with BPD typically experience some, but not necessarily all, of these symptoms. See a mental health professional for a proper diagnosis.
• Feeling empty,
• low self-esteem
• Paranoia or emotional detachment
• Anxiety about relationships,
• efforts to avoid being abandoned
• Impulsive,
• risky behaviour
• Self-harm,
• threatening or attempting suicide
• Anger,
• moodiness,
• irritability
Help for people with BPD
The most effective treatments for BPD are psychological therapies and consultation with psychiatrist, which can help you learn to better understand and manage your feelings, responses and behaviour.
With the right treatment and support, people with BPD can lead full, productive lives.
As with any health problem, seeing an understanding General Problems is a good start.
The first thing to do is learn as much as possible about BPD. Once you understand the condition better, it's easier to tackle it by finding the treatment and support you need.
Things can sometimes feel unpredictable and out-of-control when you have BPD. Establishing good routines, like healthy eating, exercise and sleeping well, can help you feel more in control and less at the mercy of your illness.
If you have thoughts of harming yourself, talk to your therapist. They can help you learn better ways of managing painful emotions and make a safety plan listing what to do and who to contact if you feel suicidal.
Help for family & friends
Symptoms of BPD can confuse and distress family, friends and careers. You may fear for the safety of the person with BPD, or feel misunderstanding, frustration, anger, guilt, and a whole range of other emotions. These are understandable responses.
Families and friends cope better when they learn about the condition, and how to communicate and relate to the person affected. It's also good to know what to do in case of a crisis.
Family and career support programs can also help. Talking with other families and people with BPD can help you better look after yourself and the person affected.
Dr. Anshul Mahajan
Consultant Psychatarist